What was meant to be a quiet dinner between two people with a long, shared history ended in heartbreak and horror.
Samantha Mickleburgh, a beloved 54-year-old mother of two, agreed to spend one last evening with her ex-fiancé at a luxury five-star hotel.
It was his birthday, and she didn’t want him to feel alone.
But by morning, Samantha was dead—her life taken in an act of violence that left family, friends, and the public reeling.
Former Fiancé Convicted of Rape and Murder at Pennyhill Park Hotel
James Cartwright, 61, was found guilty of raping and murdering Samantha during their stay at the exclusive Pennyhill Park Hotel in Bagshot, Surrey.
He called emergency services around 8:30 a.m. on April 14, 2024, claiming to have woken up next to her lifeless body.
Last month, a jury at Guildford Crown Court delivered a unanimous verdict: Cartwright was guilty of both rape and murder, although he was acquitted of a separate charge of controlling or coercive behaviour.
On sentencing, Mr Justice Murray acknowledged the devastating impact on Samantha’s family, stating: “They suffer a grief that those who have not experienced it cannot imagine. It lies beyond words.”
The Relationship Behind the Crime
Samantha and Cartwright had once shared a home, a relationship, and even plans for marriage.
Cartwright proposed to her on a beach during a holiday in 2023. But by early 2024, things had begun to unravel.
During the trial, jurors heard how Cartwright had loaned Samantha tens of thousands of pounds to renovate a property.
By the time of her death, he claimed she owed him about £100,000.
Their once “amicable and loving” relationship took a turn after Cartwright discovered sexually explicit messages from Samantha’s former partner on her phone and laptop.
One heated confrontation even led to him physically blocking her car to prevent her from leaving—an action he later said left him feeling ashamed.
A Goodbye That Turned Deadly
Although they had broken up, Samantha agreed to meet Cartwright one last time for his birthday.
According to messages he sent to another woman on Bumble, he saw the dinner as a “final farewell” or “last goodbye.”
Cartwright had already started chatting with new women online, claiming he was looking for companionship.
But beneath the surface, his feelings toward Samantha were far from resolved.
Tragically, that final dinner was Samantha’s attempt at kindness—an attempt to keep her word and give him closure.
Instead, she became the victim of a violent and selfish act.
The Morning After and a Chilling 999 Call
When hotel staff and emergency services entered the room, they found Cartwright naked and screaming in what one witness described as a “loud and exaggerated” manner.
Samantha lay on the bed, face up, with dried blood around her nose.
What he claimed to be a tragic discovery was, in truth, the aftermath of a brutal crime. A crime for which he showed no remorse.
Samantha’s Family Speaks Through Their Grief
In a powerful and emotional statement following the sentencing, Samantha’s family said they felt a sense of closure now that Cartwright had been revealed for who he really was: “a rapist and a murderer.”
“Our beloved daughter, mother, sister, and friend is gone.
The hole left behind is one of such severe magnitude we will likely never escape it,” they said.
They described Samantha as the best of them all—kind, honest, stylish, and full of life.
While justice won’t bring her back, they now feel safer knowing Cartwright cannot hurt another woman.
Investigators Reflect on Samantha’s Final Days
Detective Inspector Debbie Birch, the lead investigator, said Samantha’s decision to meet Cartwright again was rooted in compassion and guilt. “She always followed through on her promises.
This trip was meant to be one last kindness before she moved on with her life.”
But Cartwright, described as possessive and controlling, couldn’t handle being left behind—even while pursuing new relationships.
“He callously murdered her,” said DI Birch. “He has never shown remorse, but the jury saw him for what he truly is.”